Damper device

ABSTRACT

A damper device including an input element to which power from a motor is transmitted; a first elastic body to which power is transmitted from the input element; a first intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the first elastic body; a second elastic body to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate element; a second intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the second elastic body; a third elastic body to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate element; and an output element to which power is transmitted from the third elastic body. A stiffness of the first elastic body is higher than a stiffness of the second elastic body.

INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

The disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-131494 filed on Jun. 13, 2011 and Japanese Patent Application No. 2011-029715 filed on Feb. 15, 2011 including the specification, drawings and abstract is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a damper device that includes an input element to which power is transmitted from a motor, a first intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the input element via a first elastic body, a second intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate element via a second elastic body, and an output element to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate element via a third elastic body.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

There is known an existing damper device of this type, which includes first elastic members that are provided on a piston of a lock-up device, second elastic members that are provided on a driven plate fixed to a turbine runner of a torque converter, and an intermediate member that is coupled to the piston in a rotation direction via the first elastic members and that is coupled to the driven plate in the rotation direction via the second elastic members (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-82577). In this damper device, the second elastic members each are formed of a pair of coil springs and an intermediate float body that is arranged between the pair of coil springs, and each pair of coil springs are caused to act in series with each other to thereby increase the torsional angle (provide long stroke).

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the existing damper device described above, the intermediate member and the intermediate float bodies, which serve as intermediate elements, are arranged between the first elastic members and the second elastic members, so the intermediate member and the intermediate float bodies may resonate. Then, as the resonance of the plurality of intermediate elements occurs when the rotation speed of the piston of the lock-up device (engine rotation speed) is relatively low and the vibration level of the damper device as a whole is relatively high, the vibration level of the damper device as a whole further increases because of the resonance of the plurality of intermediate elements, and a relatively large vibration may be transmitted to the downstream side of the damper device. However, the above described Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-82577 does not consider anything about the resonance of the plurality of intermediate elements.

Then, it is a main object of the present invention to reduce the influence of the resonance of a plurality of intermediate elements included in a damper device.

The damper device according to the present invention employs the following means for achieving the above main object.

A damper device according to an aspect of the present invention includes: an input element to which power from a motor is transmitted; a first elastic body to which power is transmitted from the input element; a first intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the first elastic body; a second elastic body to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate element; a second intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the second elastic body; a third elastic body to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate element; and an output element to which power is transmitted from the third elastic body. In the damper device, a stiffness of the first elastic body is higher than a stiffness of the second elastic body.

The damper device includes the input element to which power is transmitted from the motor, the first intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the input element via the first elastic body, the second intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate element via the second elastic body, and the output element to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate element via the third elastic body. In this damper device, the stiffness of the first elastic body is set so as to be higher than the stiffness of the second elastic body. This makes it easy to substantially integrate the first intermediate element with the second intermediate element, and the resonance frequency of the first intermediate element and second intermediate element is increased by setting the stiffness of the first elastic body so as to be relatively high, so it is possible to cause resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element when the rotation speed of the input element is relatively high, that is, when the rotation speed of the motor is relatively high, and torque (vibrating force) from the motor is relatively low. As a result, an increase in the vibration level of the damper device as a whole (output element) due to resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element is suppressed to thereby make it possible to reduce transmission of relatively large vibrations to the downstream side of the damper device. Thus, in this damper device, it is possible to appropriately reduce the influence of the resonance of the plurality of intermediate elements.

Furthermore, a stiffness of the third elastic body may be lower than the stiffness of the second elastic body. By so doing, the stiffness of the first elastic body is set so as to be relatively high to increase the resonance frequency of the first intermediate element and second intermediate element and to decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device as a whole while the stiffness of the third elastic body is set so as to be low to thereby make it possible to improve the vibration damping characteristic of the damper device as a whole.

In addition, a stiffness of the third elastic body may be lower than the stiffness of the first elastic body and may be higher than or equal to the stiffness of the second elastic body. By so doing, it is possible to further increase the resonance frequency of the first intermediate element and second intermediate element, and to further decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device as a whole,

Furthermore, the first and second elastic bodies each may be a coil spring, and the third elastic body may be an arc spring that is arranged radially inward of the first and second elastic bodies. In this way, an arc spring is employed as the third elastic body to thereby make it possible to provide further long stroke (low stiffness) for the damper device. In addition, the third elastic body that is an arc spring is arranged radially inward of the first and second elastic bodies to reduce centrifugal force that acts on the third elastic body to thereby reduce the hysteresis of the third elastic body, that is, friction force that acts on the third elastic body during a reduced load. By so doing, it is possible to appropriately maintain the vibration damping characteristic of the third elastic body and to appropriately damp the resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element by the third elastic body.

In addition, the input element may have a contact portion that contacts with one end of the first elastic body, the first intermediate element may have a contact portion that is arranged between the other end of the first elastic body and one end of the second elastic body adjacent to the first elastic body and that contacts with both, the second intermediate element may have a contact portion that slidably supports the third elastic body and that contacts with the other end of the second elastic body and a contact portion that contacts with one end of the third elastic body, and the output element may have a contact portion that contacts with the other end of the third elastic body.

Furthermore, the first elastic body may include an outer coil spring and an inner coil spring that has a natural length different from that of the outer coil spring and that is arranged inside the outer coil spring.

In this damper device, when torque transmitted to the input element is relatively low, only any one of the outer coil spring and the inner coil spring that constitute the first elastic body absorbs torque fluctuations, and, when torque transmitted to the input element increases, the outer coil spring and the inner coil spring act in parallel to absorb torque fluctuations. That is, in this damper device, the stiffness of the first elastic body may be suppressed to a low stiffness when torque from the motor is relatively low, and the stiffness of the first elastic body may be increased when torque from the motor is relatively high. By so doing, when torque from the motor is relatively low, the stiffness of the first elastic body is suppressed to a low level, so resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element occurs in a state where the rotation speed of the motor is relatively low. However, in this case, the stiffness of the damper device as a whole decreases because of a decrease in the stiffness of the first elastic body, so an increase in the vibration level of the damper device as a whole (output element) is suppressed. By so doing, it is possible to reduce transmission of relatively large vibrations to the downstream side of the damper device. In addition, when torque from the motor is relatively high, the stiffness of the first elastic body increases, so resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element is caused to occur in a state where the rotation speed of the motor is relatively high and torque (vibrating force) from the motor is relatively low. By so doing, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vibration level of the damper device as a whole (output element) due to resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element. Then, by making the stiffness of the first elastic body changeable in multiple steps on the basis of torque transmitted to the input element in this way, the number of the break points of the stiffness of the damper device, provided by the first, second and third elastic bodies, is increased to thereby make it possible to attenuate the nonlinearity of the stiffness of the damper device. By so doing, it is possible to suppress occurrence of vibrations or noise due to fluctuations in the stiffness of the damper device through the break points.

In addition, a stiffness of the inner coil spring may be higher than or equal to a stiffness of the outer coil spring, and the natural length of the inner coil spring may be shorter than the natural length of the outer coil spring. By so doing, the stiffness of the first elastic body may be suppressed to a low level when torque transmitted to the input element is low while reducing the influence of the resonance of the plurality of intermediate elements, and the stiffness of the first elastic body may be increased when torque transmitted to the input element is high.

Furthermore, the input element may be connected via a lock-up clutch to an input member coupled to the motor, and the output element may be coupled to an input shaft of a transmission. That is, the damper device is able to cause resonance between the first intermediate element and the second intermediate element or decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device as a whole when the rotation speed of the input element is relatively high, that is, when the rotation speed of the motor is relatively high, and torque (vibrating force) from the motor is relatively low. Thus, by using the above damper device, when the rotation speed of the motor is extremely low, it is possible to carry out lockup by the lock-up clutch, that is, couple the input member to the input shaft of the transmission, while appropriately reducing transmission of vibrations from the input member to the input shaft of the transmission.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a partially cross-sectional view that shows a fluid transmission apparatus 1 that includes a damper device 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram that shows the damper device 10;

FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the fluid transmission apparatus 1;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory graph that illustrates the correlation between the rotation speed of an engine, which serves as a motor, and the vibration level of the damper device 10 in a state where lockup is carried out;

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fluid transmission apparatus 1B that includes a damper device 10B according to an alternative embodiment;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram that shows the damper device 10B according to the alternative embodiment;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory graph that shows the characteristics of springs that constitute the damper device 10 and the damper device 10B;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory graph that compares the stiffness of the damper device 10 and the stiffness of the damper device 10B;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory graph that shows an example of the correlation between the rotation speed of the engine, which serves as a motor, and the vibration level of the damper device 10B in a state where lockup is carried out; and

FIG. 10 is an explanatory graph that shows another example of the correlation between the rotation speed of the engine, which serves as a motor, and the vibration level of the damper device 10B in a state where lockup is carried out.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

A mode for carrying out the present invention will now be described using an embodiment.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram that shows a fluid transmission apparatus 1 that includes a damper device 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The fluid transmission apparatus 1 shown in the drawing is a torque converter that is mounted as a starting apparatus on a vehicle equipped with an engine (internal combustion engine) that serves as a motor. The fluid transmission apparatus 1 includes: a front cover (input member) 3 that is coupled to a crankshaft of the engine (not shown); a pump impeller (input-side fluid transmitting element) 4 that is fixed to the front cover 3; a turbine runner (output-side fluid transmitting element) 5 that is rotatable coaxially with the pump impeller 4; a stator 6 that rectifies the flow of hydraulic oil (hydraulic fluid) from the turbine runner 5 to the pump impeller 4; a damper hub (output member) 7 that is fixed to an input shaft of a transmission (not shown), which is an automatic transmission (AT) or a continuously variable transmission (CVT); a friction-type single disc lock-up clutch mechanism 8 that has a lock-up piston 80; and the damper device 10 that is connected to the damper hub 7 and that is connected to the lock-up piston 80.

The pump impeller 4 has a pump shell 40 that is airtightly fixed to the front cover 3 and a plurality of pump blades 41 that are arranged on the inner surface of the pump shell 40. The turbine runner 5 has a turbine shell 50 and a plurality of turbine blades 51 that are arranged on the inner surface of the turbine shell 50. The turbine shell 50 is fitted to the damper hub 7, and is fixed to the damper hub 7 via rivets. The stator 6 has a plurality of stator blades 60. The rotation direction of the stator 6 is set in only one direction by a one-way clutch 61. The pump impeller 4 and the turbine runner 5 face each other, and these pump impeller 4, turbine runner 5 and stator 6 form a torus (annular flow passage) that circulates hydraulic oil.

As shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the damper device 10 includes: a drive member 11 that serves as an input element; a first intermediate member (first intermediate element) 12 that engages with the drive member 11 via a plurality of first springs (first elastic bodies) SP1; a second intermediate member (second intermediate element) 14 that engages with the first intermediate member 12 via a plurality of second springs (second elastic bodies) SP2; and a driven member (output element) 15 that engages with the second intermediate member 14 via a plurality of third springs (third elastic bodies) SP3. In the embodiment, the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 each are a coil spring made of a metal material wound in a spiral shape so as to have an axis extending in a straight line when no load is applied, and the third springs SP3 each are an arc spring made of a metal material wound so as to have an axis extending in a circular arc shape when no load is applied.

The drive member 11 has a plurality of spring contact portions 11 a, which are respectively in contact with one ends of the corresponding first springs SP1, and a plurality of spring support portions 11 b. Then, the drive member 11 is fixed to the lock-up piston 80 of the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 via rivets, and is arranged in the outer peripheral region of a housing inner space defined by the front cover 3 and the pump shell 40 of the pump impeller 4. The first intermediate member 12 is formed as an annular member that is able to slidably support the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 together with the plurality of spring support portions 11 b of the drive member 11. In the embodiment, the first intermediate member 12 is rotatably supported around the axis of the fluid transmission apparatus 1 by the second intermediate member 14 and is arranged in the outer peripheral region of the housing inner space. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the first intermediate member 12 has a plurality of spring contact portions 12 a that are respectively arranged between the other ends of the corresponding first springs SP1 and one ends of the second springs SP2 adjacent to the first springs SP1 and that are respectively in contact with both.

The second intermediate member 14 is formed of an annular first plate 141 and an annular second plate 142 that is fixed to the first plate 141 via rivets. In the embodiment, the second intermediate member 14 is rotatably supported around the axis of the fluid transmission apparatus 1 by the driven member 15. The first plate 141 of the second intermediate member 14 has, at its outer peripheral side, a plurality of spring contact portions 141 a that are respectively in contact with the other ends of the corresponding second springs SP2 and a plurality of support portions 141 b that rotatably support the inner peripheral portion of the first intermediate member 12, and has, at its inner peripheral side, a plurality of spring support portions for supporting the third springs SP3. In addition, the second plate 142 of the second intermediate member 14 has spring support portions that respectively face the spring support portions of the first plate 141 to support the third springs SP3. Then, a plurality of spring contact portions 141 c (see FIG. 2) that are respectively in contact with one ends of the corresponding third springs SP3 are formed in the first and second plates 141 and 142.

By so doing, the plurality of first springs SP1 are arranged at the outer peripheral portion of the damper device 10 so as to be respectively positioned between the spring contact portions 11 a of the drive member 11 and the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12, and the plurality of second springs SP2 are arranged at the outer peripheral portion of the damper device 10 so as to be respectively positioned between the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14, that is, the spring contact portions 141 a of the first plate 141. In addition, the plurality of third springs SP3 each are arranged so as to be spaced apart from the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 in the radial direction of the fluid transmission apparatus 1, and are positioned radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2.

The driven member 15 is arranged between the first plate 141 and second plate 142 of the second intermediate member 14, and is fixed to the damper hub 7. In addition, the driven member 15 has a plurality of spring contact portions 15 a that are respectively in contact with the other ends of the corresponding third springs SP3. Furthermore, the driven member 15 has a plurality of circular arc slits 15 d that are engaged with protrusions 141 d extending from the inner peripheral portion of the first plate 141 of the second intermediate member 14 in the axial direction of the fluid transmission apparatus 1. When the protrusions 141 d of the first plate 141 are engaged with (loosely fitted to) the corresponding slits 15 d of the driven member 15, the second intermediate member 14 is supported by the driven member 15 and arranged around the axis of the fluid transmission apparatus 1 so as to be rotatable with respect to the driven member 15 within the range corresponding to the perimeter of each slit 15 d.

The lock-up clutch mechanism 8 is able to carry out lockup for coupling the front cover 3 to the damper hub 7 via the damper device 10 and to release the lockup. In the embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the lock-up piston 80 of the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 is arranged inside the front cover 3 and near the inner wall surface, adjacent to the engine (right side in the drawing), of the front cover 3, and is fitted to the damper hub 7 so as to be slidable in the axial direction and rotatable with respect to the damper hub 7. In addition, a friction material 81 is stuck to the outer periphery of the surface on the front cover 3 side of the lock-up piston 80. Then, a lock-up chamber 85 that is connected to a hydraulic control unit (not shown) via an oil passage formed in a hydraulic oil supply hole (not shown) and the input shaft is defined between the back surface (right side surface in the drawing) of the lock-up piston 80 and the front cover 3.

When power is transmitted between the pump impeller 4 and the turbine runner 5 without carrying out lockup of the lock-up clutch mechanism 8, hydraulic oil supplied to the pump impeller 4 and the turbine runner 5 flows into the lock-up chamber 85, and the lock-up chamber 85 is filled with hydraulic oil. Thus, at this time, the lock-up piston 80 is not moved toward the front cover 3, so the lock-up piston 80 is not frictionally engaged with the front cover 3. Then, during lock-up release where lockup is not carried out by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 in this way, as is apparent from FIG. 3, power from the engine that serves as a motor is transmitted to the input shaft of the transmission via a path formed of the front cover 3, the pump impeller 4, the turbine runner 5 and the damper hub 7.

In addition, when the pressure inside the lock-up chamber 85 is reduced by the hydraulic control unit (not shown), the lock-up piston 80 is moved toward the front cover 3 because of the pressure difference and is then frictionally engaged with the front cover 3. By so doing, the front cover 3 is coupled to the damper hub 7 via the damper device 10. During lockup where the front cover 3 is coupled to the damper hub 7 by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 in this way, power from the engine that serves as a motor is transmitted to the input shaft of the transmission via a path formed of the front cover 3, the lock-up clutch mechanism 8, the drive member 11, the first springs SP1, the first intermediate member 12, the second springs SP2, the second intermediate member 14, the third springs SP3, the driven member 15 and the damper hub 7, as is apparent from FIG. 3. At this time, fluctuations (vibrations) in torque input to the front cover 3 are absorbed by the first, second and third springs SP1, SP2 and SP3 of the damper device 10.

Then, in the fluid transmission apparatus 1 of the embodiment, lockup is carried out by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 at the time when the rotation speed of the engine coupled to the front cover 3 has reached an extremely low lock-up rotation speed Nlup, that is, for example, about 1000 rpm. By so doing, power transmission efficiency between the engine and the transmission is improved to thereby make it possible to further improve the fuel economy of the engine. Note that, when reducing the pressure inside the lock-up chamber 85 is stopped, the lock-up piston 80 separates from the front cover 3 because of a reduction in pressure difference resulting from the flow of hydraulic oil into the lock-up chamber 85. By so doing, lockup is released.

In this way, in order to carry out lockup at the time when the rotation speed of the engine has reached the extremely low lock-up rotation speed Nlup, that is, for example, about 1000 rpm, it is necessary to appropriately damp vibrations by the damper device 10 between the engine and the transmission when the rotation speed of the engine falls within a low rotation speed range near the above described lock-up rotation speed Nlup. Therefore, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, in order to improve the vibration damping characteristic, arc springs are used as the third springs SP3 among the serially arranged first to third springs SP1 to SP3 to provide further long stroke (low stiffness). However, each arc spring has a hysteresis higher than that of each coil spring, so, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the third springs SP3, which are arc springs, are arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 such that the hysteresis does not impair the vibration damping effect of the third springs SP3 that are arc springs. By so doing, centrifugal force that acts on the third springs SP3 is reduced to reduce the hysteresis of the third springs SP3, that is, friction force that acts on the third springs SP3 during a reduced load to thereby make it possible to appropriately maintain the vibration damping characteristic of the third springs SP3.

On the other hand, in the fluid transmission apparatus 1 of the embodiment, the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14, which serve as the intermediate elements, are arranged between the first springs SP1 and third springs SP3 of the damper device 10, so the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 may resonate. Then, resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 occurs when the rotation speed of the engine, for example, falls within a low rotation speed range near the above described lock-up rotation speed Nlup and the vibration level of the damper device 10 as a whole (driven member 15 serving as the output element) is relatively high, the vibration level of the damper device 10 as a whole further increases because of the resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14, and relatively large vibrations may be transmitted to the downstream side of the damper device 10, that is, the input shaft of the transmission. Thus, in order to smoothly carry out lockup by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 at the time when the rotation speed of the engine has reached the extremely low lock-up rotation speed Nlup, it is better to cause resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 when the rotation speed of the engine after completion of lockup is relatively high and torque, that is, vibrating force, from the engine is relatively low. For the purpose of this, it is better to further increase the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14.

In addition, in order to carry out lockup at the time when it has reached the extremely low lock-up rotation speed Nlup, that is, for example, about 1000 rpm, as described above, it is necessary not to cause the resonance of the damper device 10 as a whole when lockup is carried out and the rotation speed of the engine falls within a low rotation speed range near the above described lock-up rotation speed Nlup or when the rotation speed of the engine has further increased thereafter. Therefore, it is better to further decrease the resonance frequency ft of the damper device 10 as a whole such that, in the case where lockup is carried out from when the rotation speed of the engine is lower than the lock-up rotation speed Nlup, the resonance of the damper device 10 as a whole occurs at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is low as much as possible, that is, in a rotation speed range in which lockup is not actually carried out.

Here, the state where the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 substantially integrally resonate corresponds to a state where the first springs SP1 and the third springs SP3 are connected in parallel with the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 and the second springs SP2, which serve as a single mass. In this case, when the spring constant of each first spring SP1 is “k1” and the spring constant of each third spring SP3 is “k3”, the resultant spring constant k13 of the system is “k1+k3”, so the resonance frequency (natural frequency) fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 and the second springs SP2 that substantially integrally resonate is expressed as fi=½π·√{(k1+k3)/I} (where “I” is the sum of the inertia of the first intermediate member 12, the inertia of the second intermediate member 14 and the inertia of the second springs SP2. That is, the inertia I of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 that substantially integrally resonate may be obtained by distributing the inertia of the second springs SP2 half-and-half between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14, and may be handled as the sum of the inertia of the first intermediate member 12, the inertia of the second intermediate member 14 and the inertia of the second springs SP2 arranged therebetween. Note that the unit of the inertia I is “kg·m2”). In addition, when the damper device 10 as a whole integrally resonates, the drive member 11, the first springs SP1, the first intermediate member 12, the second springs SP2, the second intermediate member 14, the third springs SP3 and the driven member 15 are coupled' in series with one another, so the resultant spring constant k123 of the system is expressed by 1/k123=1/k1+1/k2+1/k3 where the spring constant of each second spring SP2 is “k2”, and the resonance frequency ft of the damper device 10 as a whole is expressed by ft=½π·√(k123/It) (where “It” is the inertia of the damper device as a whole).

Thus, in order to cause resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 when the rotation speed of the engine after completion of lockup is relatively high, it is better to increase the sum of the spring constant k1 of each first spring SP1 and the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3 as much as possible so as to further increase the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14. In addition, in order to cause the resonance of the damper device 10 as a whole at the time when the rotation speed of the engine before completion of lockup is relatively low, it is better to reduce the resultant spring constant k123 of the system as much as possible so as to further decrease the resonance frequency ft of the damper device 10 as a whole.

In consideration of the above, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be higher than the stiffness of each second spring SP2 and the stiffness of each third spring SP3. That is, in the present embodiment, the spring constant k1 of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be much larger (for example, about several times) than the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2 and the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3. When the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be higher than the stiffness of each second spring SP2 in this way, this makes it easy to substantially integrate the first intermediate member 12 with the second intermediate member 14, and the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 is increased by setting the stiffness of each first spring SP1 so as to be relatively high, so it is possible to cause resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 when the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high and torque (vibrating force) from the engine is relatively low. Furthermore, when the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be higher than the stiffness of each third spring SP3, the characteristic of the arc springs that are the third springs SP3 is utilized to improve the vibration damping characteristic while providing the long stroke (low stiffness) for the damper device 10, and it is possible to appropriately damp resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 by the third springs SP3. In addition, when the third springs SP3 are arc springs, vibration energy is converted to thermal energy by the hysteresis of the arc springs to thereby make it possible to decrease the peak of resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14. Then, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, in order to utilize the characteristic of an arc spring, that is, the stiffness may be easily decreased as compared with a coil spring and to further appropriately maintain the vibration damping characteristic of the third springs SP3, which are arc springs, arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 so as to reduce hysteresis, the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3 is set so as to be smaller than the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2. That is, by setting the spring constants of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 such that k1>k2>k3 (k1>>k2>k3), the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 is increased while the resonance frequency ft of the damper device 10 as a whole is decreased, and the stiffness of each third spring SP3 is decreased to thereby make it possible to improve the vibration damping characteristic of the damper device 10 as a whole.

Note that, here, the “stiffness” and the “spring constant” each indicate “force (torque)/torsional angle (the unit is “Nm/rad” or “Nm/deg”)”, and are synonymous with each other. In addition, the stiffness (spring constant) of a spring decreases (reduces) by reducing the wire diameter of the spring or reducing the number of turns per unit length, and increases by increasing the wire diameter of the spring or increasing the number of turns per unit length.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory graph that illustrates the correlation between the rotation speed of the engine and the vibration level of the above described damper device 10 in a state where lockup is carried out. The graph illustrates the correlation between the rotation speed of the engine (front cover 3) and the vibration level in the driven member 15 (damper hub 7), which serves as the output element of the damper device, in a plurality of damper devices including the damper device 10 of the embodiment, obtained through simulations of a torsional vibration system. In the above simulations, the specifications of the damper device 10, other than the specifications of the engine that serves as a motor, the specifications of the pump impeller 4, turbine runner 5 and lock-up clutch mechanism 8 and the specifications of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3, are basically the same, and the types and stiffnesses of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are varied.

The solid line in FIG. 4 indicates the vibration level of the damper device 10 of the above embodiment. In addition, the alternate long and short dash line in FIG. 4 indicates the vibration level of a damper device of a first alternative embodiment in which, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3 is set so as to be smaller than the spring constant k1 of each first spring SP1 and is set so as to be larger than the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2 (k1>k3>k2 (k1>>k3>k2)). Furthermore, the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 4 indicates the vibration level of a damper device of a second alternative embodiment in which, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, all the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are coils springs and the spring constants of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are set such that k1>k2>k3 (k1>>k2>k3) as in the case of the damper device 10. Then, the broken line in FIG. 4 indicates the vibration level of a damper device of a comparative embodiment in which, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, all the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are coil springs and the spring constants of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are the same (k1=k2=k3).

As is apparent from FIG. 4, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment and the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, as compared with the damper device of the comparative embodiment, the resonance frequency of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 increases, so resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 occurs at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high. Then, as is apparent from comparison with the comparative embodiment, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment and the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, arc springs used as the third springs SP3 in order to provide long stroke (low stiffness) are arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 so as to reduce hysteresis, so it is possible to further appropriately damp resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14, which occurs at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is further increased.

In addition, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment and the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, as compared with the damper device of the comparative embodiment, the resonance of the damper device as a whole occurs at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is lower before completion of lockup, because of a decrease in the resonance frequency of the damper device as a whole. Thus, the vibration level at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is near the lock-up rotation speed Nlup further decreases. Thus, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment and the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, it is possible to exceedingly smoothly carry out lockup by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 at the time when the rotation speed of the engine has reached the extremely low lock-up rotation speed Nlup.

Furthermore, when the damper device 10 of the embodiment is compared with the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, in the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3 is set so as to be larger than the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2, so the sum of the spring constant k1 of each first spring SP1 and the spring constant k3 of each third spring SP3 is further increased to thereby make it possible to further increase the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 and to further decrease the resonance frequency ft of the damper device 10 as a whole. Thus, in the damper device of the first alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, as compared with the damper device 10 of the embodiment, resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 may be caused to occur at the time when the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high, and the resonance of the damper device as a whole may be caused to occur at the time when the rotation speed of the engine before completion of lockup is relatively low.

As described above, the damper device 10 included in the fluid transmission apparatus 1 of the embodiment includes the drive member 11 to which power from the engine that serves as a motor is transmitted, the first intermediate member 12 to which power is transmitted from the drive member 11 via the first springs SP1, the second intermediate member 14 to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate member 12 via the second springs SP2, and the driven member 15 to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate member 14 via the third springs SP3. Then, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be higher than the stiffness of each second spring SP2. This makes it easy to substantially integrate the first intermediate member 12 with the second intermediate member 14, and the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be relatively high to increase the resonance frequency of the first intermediate member 12 and second intermediate member 14, so it is possible to cause resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 when the rotation speed of the drive member 11 is relatively high, that is, when the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high, and torque (vibrating force) from the engine is relatively low. As a result, an increase in the vibration level of the damper device 10 as a whole (driven member 15) due to resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 is suppressed to thereby make it possible to reduce transmission of relatively large vibrations to the transmission downstream of the damper device 10. Thus, in the damper device 10, it is possible to appropriately reduce the influence of resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14.

In addition, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the stiffness of each third spring SP3 is set so as to be lower than the stiffness of each second spring SP2. That is, the stiffness of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be relatively high to thereby make it possible to increase the resonance frequency of the first intermediate member 12 and second intermediate member 14 and to decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device 10 as a whole. Thus, when the stiffness of each third spring SP3 is set so as to be lower than the stiffness of each second spring SP2, the characteristic of an arc spring, that is, the stiffness may be easily decreased as compared with a coil spring, is utilized, and, the vibration damping characteristic of the third springs SP3, which are arc springs, arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 are further appropriately maintained so as to reduce hysteresis. By so doing, it is possible to improve the vibration damping characteristic of the damper device 10 as a whole. However, the stiffness of each third spring SP3 may be set so as to be lower than the stiffness of each first spring SP1 and higher than the stiffness of each second spring SP2. By so doing, as in the case of the damper device of the first alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to further increase the resonance frequency of the first intermediate member 12 and second intermediate member 14 and to further decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device 10 as a whole. In addition, the stiffness of each third spring SP3 may be set so as to be equal to the stiffness of each second spring SP2,

Furthermore, in the damper device 10 of the embodiment, the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 are coils springs, and the third springs SP3 are arc springs that are arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2. In this way, arc springs are employed as the third springs SP3 to thereby make it possible to provide further long stroke (low stiffness) for the damper device 10. In addition, the third springs SP3 that are arc springs are arranged radially inward of the first and second springs SP1 and SP2 to reduce centrifugal force that acts on the third springs SP3 to thereby reduce the hysteresis of the third springs SP3, that is, friction force that acts on the third springs SP3 during a reduced load. By so doing, it is possible to appropriately maintain the vibration damping characteristic of the third springs SP3 and to appropriately damp the resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 by the third springs SP3. However, depending on the characteristic of the engine, or the like, to which the damper device is connected, as in the case of a damper device of a second alternative embodiment shown in FIG. 4, even when all the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are coils springs and the spring constants of the first to third springs SP1 to SP3 are set such that k1>k2>k3 (k1>>k2>k3) or such that k1>k3≧k2 (k1>>k3≧k2)), an appropriate result on practical use may be obtained.

Then, the drive member 11 that constitutes the damper device 10 of the embodiment is connected via the lock-up clutch mechanism 8 to the front cover 3, which serves as the input member coupled to the engine, and the driven member 15 is coupled to the input shaft of the transmission. That is, the above described damper device 10 uses arc springs to provide the long stroke (low stiffness) and improve the vibration damping characteristic, and the damper device 10 is able to cause resonance between the first intermediate member 12 and the second intermediate member 14 or decrease the resonance frequency of the damper device 10 as a whole when the rotation speed of the drive member 11 is relatively high, that is, when the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high, and torque (vibrating force) from the engine is relatively low. Thus, by using the above damper device 10, when the rotation speed of the engine is extremely low, it is possible to carry out lockup by the lock-up clutch mechanism 8, that is, couple the front cover 3 to the input shaft of the transmission, while appropriately reducing transmission of vibrations from the front cover 3 to the input shaft of the transmission.

Subsequently, a damper device 10B according to an alternative embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 5 to FIG. 10. Note that, in order to avoid overlap description, like reference numerals are assigned to the same components among the components of the damper device 10B as the components of the above described damper device 10, and the detailed description thereof is omitted.

FIG. 5 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fluid transmission apparatus 1B that includes the damper device 10B according to the alternative embodiment. FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram that shows the damper device 10B. The damper device 10B shown in these drawings corresponds to the one such that the first springs SP1 in the above described damper device 10 are replaced with first springs SP10 described below. Each first spring SP10 includes an outer coil spring SP11 and an inner coil spring SP12 that has a natural length different from that of the outer coil spring SP11 and that is arranged inside the outer coil spring SP11, and is able to change the stiffness (spring constant) in multiple steps in response to torque transmitted to the drive member 11 that serves as the input element.

In the damper device 10B, as shown in FIG. 6, each inner coil spring SP12 has a natural length shorter than that of each outer coil spring SP11, and is arranged substantially coaxially inside the outer coil spring SP11. As torque is transmitted from the engine, which serves as a motor, to the damper device 10B and the drive member 11 starts to rotate, the inner coil springs SP12 contact with any one of the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12 and the spring contact portions 141 a of the first plate 141 of the second intermediate member 14 on the basis of the rotation direction of the drive member 11. Then, as torque transmitted to the drive member 11 increases and the inner coil springs SP12 contact with both the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 with contraction of the outer coil springs SP11, the outer coil springs SP11 and the inner coil springs SP12 act in parallel.

Thus, where the spring constant of each outer coil spring SP11 is “k11” and the spring constant of each inner coil spring SP12 is “k12”, when the inner coil springs SP12 are in contact with only any one of the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12 and the spring contact portions 141 a of the second intermediate member 14, the spring constant of each first spring SP10 is k11, and, when the inner coil springs SP12 are in contact with both the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12 and the spring contact portions 141 a of the second intermediate member 14, the spring constant of each first spring SP10 is k11+k12 (>k11). Note that one ends of the inner coil springs SP12 may be fixed to any one of the spring contact portions 12 a of the first intermediate member 12 and the spring contact portions 141 a of the second intermediate member 14.

In addition, in the damper device 10B, as shown in FIG. 7, a coil spring that has a stiffness higher than that of each second spring SP2, that is, a spring constant k11 larger than the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2, is employed as each outer coil spring SP11. In addition, a coil spring that sets the stiffness (spring constant) of each first spring SP10 as a whole so as to be equivalent to that of each first spring SP1 in the above described damper device 10 when the outer coil spring SP11 and the inner coil spring SP12 act in parallel is employed as each inner coil spring SP12.

That is, when the outer coil spring SP11 and the inner coil spring SP12 act in parallel, the spring constant of each first spring SP10 is k11+k12, so the one that satisfies k12≈k1−k11 is employed as the inner coil spring SP12. In addition, as described above, when the spring constant k1 of each first spring SP1 is set so as to be about several times as the spring constant k2 of each second spring SP2, the spring constant k12 of each inner coil spring SP12 is larger than or equal to the spring constant k11 of each outer coil spring SP11. Thus, in the damper device 10B, the correlation k12≧k11>k2>k3 is satisfied, and the stiffness of each first spring SP10 is higher than the stiffness of each second spring SP2 even when the outer coil spring SP11 and the inner coil spring SP12 do not act in parallel.

When torque is transmitted from the engine, which serves as a motor, to the above configured damper device 10B, torque fluctuations are initially absorbed by the outer coil springs SP11, second springs SP2 and third springs SP3 that act in series (see “SP11&SP2&SP3” in FIG. 8), as shown in FIG. 8. In addition, as the third springs SP3 fully contract with an increase in torque transmitted to the drive member 11, torque fluctuations are absorbed by the outer coil springs SP11 and second springs SP2 that act in series (see “SP11&SP2” in FIG. 8).

Furthermore, as the torque transmitted to the drive member 11 becomes larger than or equal to a predetermined value Tref (see FIG. 8) and then the third springs SP3 fully contract and the inner coil springs SP12 contact with both the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 with contraction of the outer coil springs SP11, torque fluctuations are absorbed by the outer coil springs SP11 and inner coil springs SP12 that act in parallel and the second springs SP2 (see “SP11&SP12&SP2” in FIG. 8). Then, as extremely large torque is transmitted to the drive member 11 and then the second and third springs SP2 and SP3 fully contract, torque fluctuations are absorbed by the outer coil springs SP11 and inner coil springs SP12 that act in parallel (see “SP11&SP12” in FIG. 8). That is, the outer coil spring SP11 and the inner coil spring SP12 that constitute each first spring SP10 do not act in parallel when torque transmitted to the drive member 11 is smaller than the predetermined value Tref and act in parallel when torque transmitted to the drive member 11 is larger than or equal to the predetermined value Tref.

In this way, in the damper device 10B according to the alternative embodiment, when torque transmitted from the engine to the drive member 11 is relatively low (smaller than the predetermined value Tref), only the outer coil springs SP11 of the first springs SP10 absorb torque fluctuations; whereas, when torque transmitted to the drive member 11 is high (larger than or equal to the predetermined value Tref), the outer coil springs SP11 and inner coil springs SP12 of the first springs SP10 act in parallel to absorb torque fluctuations. That is, in the damper device 10B, the stiffness of each first spring SP10 may be suppressed to a low level when torque from the engine is relatively low, and the stiffness of each first spring SP10 may be increased when torque from the engine is relatively high.

By so doing, when torque from the engine is relatively low, the stiffness (spring constant=k11) of each first spring SP10 is suppressed to a low level to thereby cause the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 to decrease, and, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9, resonance between the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 occurs in a state where the rotation speed of the engine is relatively low as compared with the above described damper device 10 (see the broken line in FIG. 9). However, in such a case, the level of vibrations itself transmitted from the engine is also relatively low, and the stiffness of the damper device 10B as a whole decreases with a decrease in the stiffness of each first spring SP10, so, as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 9, an increase in the vibration level of the damper device 10B as a whole (driven member 15) is suppressed. By so doing, it is possible to reduce transmission of relatively large vibrations to the downstream side of the damper device 10B.

In addition, when torque from the engine is relatively high, the stiffness (spring constant=k11+k12) of each first spring SP10 increases, so the resonance frequency fi of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 also increases, and resonance between the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14 is caused to occur in a state where the rotation speed of the engine is relatively high and torque (vibrating force) from the engine is relatively low. By so doing, it is possible to suppress an increase in the vibration level of the damper device 10B as a whole (driven member 15) due to the resonance of the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14. Then, as described above, when the one that satisfies k12≈k1−k11 is employed as each inner coil spring SP12, the vibration damping characteristic of the damper device 10B at the time when torque transmitted from the engine to the drive member 11 is relatively high (larger than or equal to the predetermined value Tref) may be made similar to the above described damper device 10, as shown in FIG. 10.

Furthermore, by making the stiffness of each first spring SP10 changeable in multiple steps on the basis of torque transmitted to the drive member 11 as described above, as shown in FIG. 8, as compared with the above described damper device 10 (see the broken line in the drawing), the number of the break points (see the outline circles in FIG. 8) of the stiffness of the damper device 10, provided by the first springs SP10, the second springs SP2 and the third springs SP3, is increased to thereby make it possible to attenuate the nonlinearity of the stiffness of the damper device 10B. By so doing, it is possible to suppress occurrence of vibrations or noise due to fluctuations in the stiffness of the damper device 10B through the break points. In addition, by employing arc springs as the third springs SP3 as described above, when the stiffness of the damper device 10B fluctuates through the break point between “SP11&SP2&SP3” and “SP11&SP2” in FIG. 8, it is possible to suppress nonlinear vibrations by the hysteresis of the arc springs.

Then, when the stiffness of each inner coil spring SP12 is set so as to be higher than or equal to the stiffness of each outer coil spring SP11 and the natural length of each inner coil spring SP12 is set so as to be shorter than the natural length of each outer coil spring SP11 as described above, the stiffness of each first spring SP10 may be suppressed to a low level when torque transmitted to the drive member 11 is low while reducing the influence of resonance between the first and second intermediate members 12 and 14, and the stiffness of each first spring SP10 may be increased when torque transmitted to the drive member 11 is high. However, depending on the characteristic of the engine, or the like, to which the damper device 10B is connected, the stiffness of each inner coil spring SP12 may be set so as to be lower than the stiffness of each outer coil spring SP11. In addition, the natural length of each outer coil spring SP11 may be set so as to be shorter than the natural length of each inner coil spring SP12. Furthermore, in the damper device 1 OB, all the first to third springs SP10 to SP3 may be coil springs, and the spring constants of the first to third springs SP10 to SP3 may be set such that k12≧k11>k3≧k2.

Note that the above described fluid transmission apparatus 1 is configured as the torque converter that includes the pump impeller 4, the turbine runner 5 and the stator 6; instead, the fluid transmission apparatus that includes the damper device according to the present invention may be configured as a fluid coupling that has no stator. In addition, the above described fluid transmission apparatus 1 may include a friction-type multiple disc lock-up clutch mechanism instead of the friction-type single disc lock-up clutch mechanism 8.

Here, the correspondence relationship between major elements of the above described embodiment, and the like, and major elements of the invention described in the summary of the invention will be explained. That is, in the above described embodiment, and the like, the drive member 11 to which power from the engine, which serves as a motor, is transmitted corresponds to the “input element”, the first springs SP1, which are coils springs, to which power is transmitted from the drive member 11 correspond to the “first elastic body”, the first intermediate member 12 to which power is transmitted from the first springs SP1 corresponds to the “first intermediate element”, the second springs SP2, which are coil springs, to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate member 12 correspond to the “second elastic body”, the second intermediate member 14 to which power is transmitted from the second springs SP2 corresponds to the “second intermediate element”, the third springs SP3, which are arc springs, to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate member 14 correspond to the “third elastic body”, and the driven member 15 to which power is transmitted from the third springs SP3 corresponds to the output element.

However, the correspondence relationship between the major elements of the embodiment and the major elements of the invention described in the summary of the invention is one example for specifically explaining a mode in which the embodiment carries out the invention described in the summary of the invention, so the correspondence relationship does not intend to limit the elements of the invention described in the summary of the invention. That is, the embodiment is just one specific example of the invention described in the summary of the invention, and the interpretation of the invention described in the summary of the invention should be made on the basis of the description itself.

The mode for carrying out the present invention is described above with reference to the embodiment; however, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and, of course, may be modified into various forms without departing from the scope of the invention.

The present invention is usable in the manufacturing industry, or the like, of a damper device. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A damper device comprising: an input element configured to receive power from a motor; a first elastic body to which power is transmitted from the input element; a first intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the first elastic body; a second elastic body to which power is transmitted from the first intermediate element; a second intermediate element to which power is transmitted from the second elastic body; a third elastic body to which power is transmitted from the second intermediate element, the third elastic body being an arc spring; and an output element to which power is transmitted from the third elastic body, wherein a stiffness of the first elastic body is higher than a stiffness of the second elastic body, and a stiffness of the third elastic body is lower than the stiffness of the second elastic body.
 2. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the first and second elastic bodies each are a straight coil spring, and the third elastic body is arranged radially inward of the first and second elastic bodies.
 3. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the input element has a contact portion that contacts with one end of the first elastic body, the first intermediate element has a contact portion that is arranged between the other end of the first elastic body and one end of the second elastic body adjacent to the first elastic body and that contacts with both, the second intermediate element has a contact portion that contacts with the other end of the second elastic body and a contact portion that contacts with one end of the third elastic body, and the output element has a contact portion that contacts with the other end of the third elastic body.
 4. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the first elastic body includes a straight outer coil spring and a straight inner coil spring that has a natural length different from that of the straight outer coil spring and that is arranged inside the straight outer coil spring.
 5. The damper device according to claim 4, wherein a stiffness of the straight inner coil spring is higher than or equal to a stiffness of the straight outer coil spring, and the natural length of the straight inner coil spring is shorter than the natural length of the straight outer coil spring.
 6. The damper device according to claim 1, wherein the input element is connected via a lock-up clutch to an input member coupled to the motor, and the output element is coupled to an input shaft of a transmission. 